Joint Protocol 2019 2021 - Joint working arrangements - ensuring we meet the needs of homeless 16- and 17-year olds - Suffolk Safeguarding ...
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Joint Protocol 2019 – 2021 Joint working arrangements – ensuring we meet the needs of homeless 16- and 17-year olds May 2019
Agreed and signed by:
Codrutza Oros-Marsh
Suffolk County Council
Head of Quality, Engagement and
Professional Development CYP and ACS
Ian Blofield
Ipswich Borough Council
Head of Housing and Community Services
Heather Tucker
Mid Suffolk and Babergh
Corporate Manager - Housing Solutions
Davina Howes
West Suffolk Council
Assistant Director (Families & Communities)
Cairistine Foster-Cannan
East Suffolk Council
Head of Housing
2Contents
Page
1. Introduction 4
2. Principle 4
3. Joint commitments 5
4. Purpose 6
5. Information 6
6. Flowchart 7
7. Governance 8
8. Dispute Resolution 8
9. What does success look like to us? 8
10. Appendix 1 - First Contact Script for 16/17 Year Olds 9
11. Appendix 2 – Housing Option Contacts 15
12. Glossary 16
Policy Version History
Date of SSP
Version (formerly LSCB) Date of Review Document Author
Endorsement
V1 May 2016 May 2019 Julia Vernon
Tracey Curtis,
Strategic Commissioning Lead for
Corporate Parenting, Suffolk County
V2 April 2019 May 2021
Council and
District & Borough Councils
Representatives
V3 April 2019 May 2021 Appendices added
31. Introduction
1.1 This joint protocol forms an agreement between Suffolk County Council and Suffolk
Borough and District Councils.
1.2 The ambition is to ensure legislation, caselaw and guidance is applied consistently
across our county, improving the experience, choice and accommodation our young
people presently receive, thus preventing homelessness.
1.3 Collectively we consider that young people are best placed living with their families or
within the existing family network, as long as it is safe for them to do so. We will make
every effort to support this and commit to continually explore reunification.
2. Principles
• To safeguard and promote the wellbeing of our young people.
• To prevent homelessness.
• To eliminate unsuitable accommodation for our young people and adopt a partnership
approach to accommodation where resources are full.
• To keep a young person’s voice at the centre of practice. The wishes and views of
the young person to be taken into consideration and will be fully evident in throughout
the process.
• To consider individual circumstances in a holistic way, including pregnancy, and
relationships, as a household.
• To embrace collaborative working relationship between partners and agencies with a
focus on aligning procedures to make services easy to access by young people and
families.
• To establish a consistent pathway – the flowchart has been agreed to facilitate this.
• Partner agencies to recognise and promote opportunities for young people (aged 16
or 17) to live with their families and get support from them if safe to do so. There is a
joint commitment in investing in resources that enhance stronger family network.
• Uphold that for young people whose assessment outcome indicate that they are
imminently homeless, the Local Authorities Duties under section 20/17 of the 1989
Children’s Act take precedence over the duties in the 1996 Housing Act.
• A commitment from partner agencies to ensure services provided will as much as
possible be within the local community of the children and their families.
4• Information sharing; All parties will adhere to the government guidance “Information
Sharing Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young
people, parents and carers March 2015”.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/419
628/Information_sharing_advice_safeguarding_practitioners.pdf
• Joint assessments between CYPS and Housing services will determine the needs of
the child, and the services required to meet this need. Assessment timescales should
not undermine the provision of services.
3. Joint Commitments
• The County Council and Districts & Borough Councils all want to achieve what is best
for 16/17-year olds - this will typically mean a 16 / 17-year-old remaining living with
their family, or existing network, where it is safe for them to do so.
• To prevent homelessness and achieve a landscape where no Suffolk young person
is being placed in unsuitable accommodation, even on a temporary basis, ensuring
adequate levels of accommodation are available.
• Commitment to joint assessments and closer working relationships between
agencies will ensure that young people and families would not have to continue to
repeat their stories to several professionals.
• Ensuring our young people have recourse to clear ‘child friendly’ information
regarding their rights and entitlements. Understanding the full implications of
decisions, they make.
• Advocacy will be offered to young people throughout the process.
• We will keep our young people at the centre of what we do and respecting the views
of the young person, recognising that these can change. Consulting with them
regularly regarding their pathway and experiences.
• To recognise the significant benefits of partnership working and joint assessments.
• To maintain records of 16/17 young people accommodated, to allow us to understand
the scale and composition of presenting needs and shared following GDPR guidance.
This data needs to influence the work of the County Council and the Local authorities,
in terms of our processes and commissioning.
• The YPHAG will monitor sufficiency of suitable accommodation.
• Allied approach to the likelihood that young people may change their minds
throughout this process, and it is legitimate for them to do so.
54. Purpose
4.1 This protocol relates to responsibilities and duties to ensure the prevention of
homelessness of young people aged 16 – 17.
4.2 This protocol aims to safeguard children and prevent homelessness through effective
partnership arrangements, building on our existing work in this area.
4.3 We wish to make certain we all meet our statutory responsibilities.
4.4 We want our young people feel, safe, informed, and listened to.
5. Information
5.1 Code of guidance for homeless 16- and 17-year olds.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/provision-of-accommodation-for-16-and-
17-year-olds-who-may-be-homeless-and-or-require-accommodation
5.2 The Children’s Act 1989, Chapter 41, Part III, Section 20 Provision of
accommodation for children.
5.3 The Housing Act 1996, Part 7.
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1996/52/part/VII
5.4 The House of Lords judgement of May 2009, in the case of G v LB Southwark and the
subsequent statutory guidance issued in 2010 clarifying the interface between the
duties under the Children’s Act and homeless legislation.
66. Flowchart – 16- and 17-year olds presenting as homeless
16/17 homeless issue presents to HWCS, District, Borough, Housing Provider, Police, Health, etc
Actual or Imminent homelessness? N 16/17 Homelessness Prevention Pathway
Y
Supported Housing
Customer First notified using a MARF, marked as urgent (also a phone call if same day issue. Ideally face to face visit in 24 – 48 hours
.
YP is unallocated YP is an allocated CIN case
Case passed to MASH. MASH undertake MASH Case passed to allocated CYPS team. CYPS undertake
Information trawl, drawing on YP, Parents, HWCS, Information trawl, drawing on YP, Parents, CYPS, Housing,
Housing, etc. MASH undertake enquiries in relation etc. CYPS undertake enquiries in relation to YP’s
to YP’s homelessness and support solutions around homelessness and support solutions around the YPs network
the YPs network (return home / friends / relations). (return home / friends / relations).
MASH to record “Homeless 16/17” as a presenting Allocated social worker will liaise with housing, as applicable.
issue, clearly record decision and rationale and
share outcome with housing. MASH to record “Homeless 16/17” as a presenting issue,
clearly record decision and rationale and share outcome with
Advocacy offered. housing.
CYPS starts CIN Assessment. Advocacy offered.
CYPS Placements Team advised by allocated social worker
that suitable accommodation may be needed. Discussion to
take place with YP and YP to make an informed decision
about s20 or not.
Possible Outcomes / Decision Making
YP able to YP able to return YP able to return YP may not be YP cannot return Supported
return home or to home or to able to return home or to Housing
home with accommodation accommodation home or to accommodation
no s17 or within YPs Network within YPs Network accommodation within YPs
EH support as a family as a family within YPs network. YP is
needed arrangement. arrangement. network. homeless,
Assessment for EH Assessment for s17 assessment for assessment for
support needed support needed s17 support s17 or s20 support
needed needed
Timely robust joint assessment (same day if potential
homelessness that night) Social Work assessment visit by a Social
MASH/Early help will use discretion on when to Worker (working with Housing) to support solutions around YP
follow-up to determine what happened on that first Network (return home / friends / relations). Informed Choices leaflet
and second night instigating further action if needed. to be discussed. At minimum aim for a planned move.
CYPS safety plan agreed with YP for interim support to meet YP
needs
Social Worker confirms whether short stay suitable accommodation under s17 or s20 (dependent on assessment) is required
Advocacy offered. Advocacy offered.
YP agrees s20. HWCS arrange appropriate YP
7 declines s20. District/ Borough Housing to accommodation.
accommodation. CIC plan is opened. Assistance under the relief duty.
CIN Support s177. Governance
7.1 The Young Person Housing Action Group and the Local Safeguarding Children’s
Board have ownership of this protocol.
8. Dispute Resolution
8.1 Complaint sources can be the County, the Boroughs / Districts, an advocate or by a
young people themselves.
8.2 All disputes will be dealt with urgently following the agreed actions, principles and
commitments within this protocol.
8.3 Where a joint decision is proving problematic a champion will be consulted in the first
instance.
8.4 Where a joint decision remains problematic, the matter will be escalated to senior
managers.
8.5 Case studies will be taken to the YPHAG where it is felt learning can be achieved, or
the protocol needs reviewing. All partners will be notified of the individual case in
advance to allow each organisation to fact find and invite the appropriate staff to openly
discuss the individual circumstances and decisions made in the case.
8.6 Matters can be raised to the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership board when consensus
cannot be reached.
8.7 Requirements on the level of prevision needed by all partners should be reviewed at
the YPHAG at regular intervals and will be at the next preluding meeting if any young
person is placed into unsuitable accommodation.
8.8 Targeted training can be recommended and delivered by the group.
8.9 The overarching governance is with the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership board, and
where necessary cases can be taken to this group for discussion.
9. What does success look like to us?
9.1 This protocol being used as an active resource and tool when considering homeless
16- and 17-year olds.
9.2 A consistent offer is experienced by young people of Suffolk.
9.3 Young people being suitably accommodated.
810. Appendix 1 - First Contact Script for 16/17 Year Olds
The First Contact form is effectively a script of the actions to be taken and the questions to be asked in the
first stages of a young person’s homelessness presentation, including a referral form that is shared
between MASH, the housing team, accommodation provider and the young person.
Please indicate the purpose of the referral (tick all that apply):
Support to return home
Referral to MASH Safeguarding Hub – must be done if Homeless tonight
Referral to Boroughs and Districts
These questions are the minimum we would expect to be asked of a young person when they present as
homeless. The purpose of this is to ensure a consistent response and experience, regardless of whose front
door the young person presents to and regardless of where in the county they present. This should prevent
the young person from having to repeat their story unnecessarily.
I’m going to need to ask you a few questions to find out more about you and to understand your
situation. I will need to ask some personal questions so that we can work out how best to help you
and I’ll have to make some notes. I’m going to use notes to fill in a form that will start the process of
getting you some help. Are you ok with that?
Can you give me some basic details about yourself?
Name
DOB
Address
Postcode
Contact Number/Email
address
Ethnicity
Nationality
Education
Medical needs/ GP
CONTEXT AND IMMEDIATE ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
The first thing we need to do is establish where you have been living and why you can’t live there
anymore, so can you tell me where you have been staying and what has been going on?
9Do you feel safe there? If no, please give details
Do you have you somewhere to stay tonight? Can you go home or are there any friends or family
members you could stay with? Is there anyone you could stay with where you would be safe and
can I help you sort that?
Please state – name of person you are staying with, relationship, accommodation arrangements, household and
contact details.
If we ‘phoned your carer and asked them if you could go back home, what do you think they would
say?
What could we do to help you to resolve the difficulties you are having at home?
If the YP feels safe at home/where they have been staying, move to on statement support needs and risk
If there are safeguarding concerns, a referral must be made to MASH with a copy of this form attached.
If there are no safeguarding concerns, move on to support needs and risk.
Other supplementary questions may be asked dependent upon the conversation. What we need to establish
is why the YP believes they are no longer able to live at home, and whether it is possible to “hold” the position
at home and prevent homelessness. If they are not at home, how long is it since they left home, how long
have they been in an interim arrangement and why has that ended? The questions above are what we
identified in conjunction with YP who had experienced homelessness, professionals who support these young
people, and both were involved in the development of the script.
10EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION – HOMELESS TONIGHT
Young person protocol – insert the flowchart or link?
2019-08 SF1596 -
Homelessness CYP Booklet v3 LR.pdf
At this point please issue the Young Persons advice leaflet and discuss the short term options
Dependent on the YP’s circumstances, ask about food and benefits as part of this conversation or pick up
under Action & Next Steps.
11SUPPORT NEEDS AND RISK
The next thing we need to establish is whether you are getting any help from anyone right now. This will help
us work out if you need any extra support and who best can do that. We can offer you help to sort things out
with your parent(s). Lots of young people fall out with their parents and it can take a bit of time to sort, but
it’s much better to be at home/with your family until you’re 18 and then plan your move if that’s what you
need or want to do.
Are there any agencies you are involved with/are there any other people you see, who help you or give you
support? E.g social care, Education, Health, early help, CAMHS, housing, family or friend??
How are you feeling in yourself?
Can you describe in some detail please?
If negative, then carry on with:
Can you tell me more about what is making you feel like that?
Is there anything that makes it better?
Is there anything that makes it worse?
Before we can look at what happens next, we just need to build up as clear a picture as possible of you and
identify anything that might help you or anything that may cause complications? Are there any offences you
can tell me about or is there anything you are waiting to hear about? YES NO
If yes, ask about involvement with Youth Justice (YJS),(get the name of the worker) the sentence, timing
and generally get more detail. If the offence has not yet been dealt with (e.g. charge), we’d still like to
know if relevant (e.g. Arson etc)
12Do you know about what the housing options are for young people? Confirm leaflet seen and discussed Yes/No
ACTION & NEXT STEPS
What I would like to do now is talk you through what happens next, where this information goes and what
happens to it but before I do that, I would like to hear about what you would like to see happen and where
you would like to be living.
We are looking for the young person to expand beyond “I need somewhere to live” so that we understand
their desired outcome; is it about a tenancy and support to manage, is it about support to return home, is it
about living in supported accommodation etc…? Use the Housing Pathway for your district to talk the young
person through the options, being realistic about their level of choice.
Is there someone you would like to be invited to meetings alongside you to help you put your case across and
make sure that your voice is heard? We call this person an advocate. If you don’t have someone but would like
an advocate, we may be able to get one for you. You may be able to get help from an advocate if you feel you
are not being listened to about any issue. An advocate may be able to act as a voice for you. If you are
interested, I could ask if you meet the criteria and refer. Is this something you would be interested in? YES
NO
Referral to Advocacy YES NO Date:
So, I said at the beginning that I was going to take some notes and fill in a form; I’d like us to go through
briefly what I have written on the form to make sure that you agree this is a fair record of what we have
discussed. With your permission, I will now share this information with Children’s Services so that they can
do a first assessment of what your needs are and we can start to work out how best to help you.
Are you happy for me to share this information? If your case is given to someone in children’s services, then
they will be in touch with you as soon as possible, within a maximum of 24 hours. If your case is not passed
to the local team, we will look at other ways to support you.
13I give permission for Suffolk County Council and _____________________ D/B Council to share and store
the information contained in this document and that any relevant agencies that are involved in my care
and support can be contacted.
I understand that if the information on this form is untrue and incorrect and that any false or
misleading information may lead to:
• My referral being cancelled; and/or
• An offer of support/accommodation being withdrawn.
Name: Signature: _________________
Date:
I will now contact the Emergency Team Social Worker and between us we will agree a solution for your
immediate accommodation needs. On Monday, your details will be passed to MASH for them to look
at your circumstances in more detail.
IF OUT OF HOURS:
I will copy the form so that I have a copy and you have a copy as well as the one I will send to Children’s
Services We will email this to you
I will now contact Children’s Services, to discuss with them how best to proceed and how to support
you. They will carry out an assessment of your needs. If you are homeless and have nowhere suitable
to stay; we will work together to find suitable, temporary accommodation for you whilst this
assessment is undertaken, and we continue the conversation about your longer-term needs.
Name of Referrer: Date:
Organisation:
Contact Details:
If you are making a referral for a 16/17-year-old into supported accommodation, this signed and
completed form needs to be sent to the contact detailed below. Please note you also can contact
the relevant accommodation provider directly at this time to discuss and progress this referral.
Postal Address:
E-mail: within 24hours. Please check your junk mail.
Telephone enquiries:
1411. Appendix 2 – Housing Options Contacts
Out of Hours
Local Authority Email Telephone
Telephone
number
numbers
Ipswich Borough housing.options@ipswich.gov.uk 01473 433033 01473 433444
Council- Duty line
Nicola Clarke Nicola.clarke@ipswich.gov.uk 01473 433261
Housing Options
Manager
Bridie Green Bridie.green@ipswich.gov.uk 01473 433222
Housing Options
Manager
Babergh / Mid 01473 296452 0808 1687794
Suffolk District
Council- Triage
Claire Bray Claire.Bray@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk 01473 296452
Professional Lead-
Housing Solutions
Generic Contact housingoptions@baberghmidsuffolk.gov.uk 0300 123 4000, 0808 1687794
option 3 for
housing.
East Suffolk 01502 527132 0800 4402516
Council
Poppy Wragg poppy.wragg@eastsuffolk.gov.uk 01394 444214
Senior Housing
Needs Officer
South Team
Fern Lincoln Fern.lincoln@eastsuffolk.gov.uk 01502 523138
Senior Housing
Needs Officer
North Team
Generic contact Housing.needs@eastsuffolk.gov.uk 0333 0162000
Customer Services
West Suffolk
Sara Lomax Sara.lomax@westsuffolk.gov.uk 01284 757151
Generic Contact customer.services@westsuffolk.gov.uk 01284 763233 01284 763252
1512. Glossary
ACS Adult and Community Services
CIC Child In Care
CIN Child In Need
CYP / CYPS Children and Young People’s Services
EH Early Help
GDPR General Data Protection Regulations
HWCS Health, Wellbeing and Children’s Services
MARF Multi-Agency Referral Form
MASH Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub
SSP Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership
YP Young Person
YPHAG Young Person’s Housing Action Group
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